Combustion device



June 2, 1959 KO E COMBUSTION DEVICE- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1957 FIG-/ INVENTOR. J/M: K0655 Maw/M 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1957 R O E 3 Z "A W .\U G E I W F J M BY WWW United COMBUSTION DEVICE Jirne Kocee, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of one-seventh each to Louis Economou, Thanos Economou, Peter A. Castles, Louis P. Golfos, and John M. Hontalas, San Francisco, and Anthony J. Mathews, San Bruno, Calif.

Application September 23, 1957, Serial No. 685,624

7 Claims. ('Cl. 183-6) This invention relates to combustion devices and more particularly to a device for completing the combustion of partially consumed combustion products.

The problem of air pollution is increasing, and many ordinances have been passed to restrict the discharge of air pollutants from industrial or other combustion processes. The efi'iciency of modern industrial furnaces is constantly increasing but not yet has any practicable furnace been made which will provide for complete combustion of the fuel used therein. As a consequence, the combustion products discharged therefrom will include various liquids and tars entrained in the gases, solid fuel in the form of ash or other incompletely consumed fuel, as well as incompletely consumed gases. By the present invention, a device is provided which will receive the combustion products from a furnace, separate the entrained liquid and complete the combustion of any unburnt fuel by the successive passage thereof through a series of incandescent grates. The finally combusted products are then washed to remove any possible solid particles remaining as well as to condense any liquids which might be still entrained in the gases, so that the gases discharged from the device will be substantially free from pollutants.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a device to complete the combustion of partially consumed combustion products.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for completing the combustion of combustion products by passing the products through a series of incandescent grates within a flue and by then washing the final combustion products.

Yet another object is to provide a device as set out in the last object with means to insulate the flue from the heat of the incandescent grates.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.

In the drawings, forming a portion of this application, and in which like parts are identified by like reference numerals throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the invention, with portions shown in section and portions shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, and with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, taken on line 3+3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, a vertically extending fine It} is supported by fins 11 welded on the lower end 12 thereof, the fins being received within tank 13, so that the lower end of the flue is above the water level of the water in the tank.

A plurality of heating units 15a, 15b and 15c are disposed within the lower portion of the flue 10, one above another. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, heating unit 15:: comprises a horizontally disposed grate memher 17a supported on the top of a hollow imperforate auxiliary flue member 18a preferably shaped as a frustrum of a pyramid. The walls of the auxiliary flue member 18a are spaced from the inner wall of flue 10 for a purpose to be hereinafter discussed. Manifolds 19a and 2011 are formed on the lower edges of opposed sides of the auxiliary flue member to receive an air-gas mixture through conduits 21a and 22a from a fine source (not shown). The conduits 21a and 22a also serve to support the heating unit in fixed relation within the flue 10. The manifolds are provided with customary orifices 23a for the discharge of the air-gas mixture therefrom. The heating units 15b and 15c are identical to the heating unit 1512 and like parts are designated by like reference numbers with the letters b or c appended thereto. heating unit 15a is disposed above the lower edge of the auxiliary flue member 13b of heating unit 15b, and, similarly, the grate member 17b of heating unit 15b is disposed above the lower edge of the auxiliary flue member 18a of heating unit 15a. The grate members 17a, 17b and 17c are preferably made of bars of a. corrosion resistant alloy, such as Inconel; the bars being spaced fairly closely together so as to form a great number of small passages therethrough.

Spaced above the uppermost heating units 15a are a plurality of wash heads 25a, 25b and 25c disposed generally horizontally in the flue 10, one above another. As seen in Fig. 2, wash head 25c comprises an imperforate, hemispherically-shaped, inverted bowl member 260 supported by fins 27c so that the outer periphery 28c of the wash head is spaced closely from the inner wall of flue 10 so as to form an annular passage therebetween. The wash head 250 is also preferably made of a corrosion resistant alloy, such as Inconel. Spaced slightly above the wash head 25c is a couduit'29c having a nozzle 30c adapted to direct a flow of water over the upper surface of the wash head. Wash heads 25a and 251': are identical to wash head 25c, and receive water from nozzles 30a and 3%, respectively.

Water is supplied to the wash head nozzles 30a, 30b and 300 from tank 13 by means of a pump 31 having an inlet conduit 32 extending downwardly into the tank 13 below the water level, and an outlet connected in a series arrangement through a filter 33, a heat exchanger 34, and conduit 35, to the valves 36a, 36b and 36c adapted to control the amount of flow to each of the wash head nozzles. The heat exchanger 34 is used to cool the water flowing therethrough by any conventional means.

A combustion products conduit 37 is adapted to receive combustion products from any source, as for example the combustion chamber shown in my prior application, Serial No. 614,496, filedOctober 8, 1956, and extends generally longitudinally through the tank 13, below the water level therein, to intersect a generally vertical conduit 38, so that a first branch 38a is formed extending downwardly through the tank 13 to valve 39, and a second branch 38b extends upwardly and terminates Within the auxiliary flue member 180 and below the grate member 17c. A blower 40 is disposed within conduit 37 to force combustion products therethrough, if necessary or desired.

A draft inducting air conduit 41 extends into flue 10 above the wash head 25a and terminates upwardly within the flue; the air conduit being supplied with air under pressure by means of blower 42 connected thereto.

A pilot light 43 is positioned in igniting relation to manifold 190, the pilot light being supplied from a suitable source of fuel (not shown). 1 In the operation of the device,,the water pump 31 is operated to circulate the water from the tank 13 through As will be noted, the grate member of the filter 33, cooling means 34 to the nozzles 30a, 39b and 30c, positioned above the wash heads 25a, 25b and 25c, respectively. The water will flow over the wash heads and be directed therefrom against the inner wall of the flue so as to form a plurality of annular Water screens across the flue 10; the water then flowing down the inner flue wall and back into the tank 13. The blower 42 is operated to provide a forced draft through the flue It); a gas-air mixture is delivered to the manifolds of each heating unit a, 15b and 15c, the fuel. being ignited by the pilot light 43. The grates 17a, 17b and 170 are heated to incandescence by the flames from the manifolds of the heating units.

Combustion products are then delivered to the combustion product conduit, either by the draft in the flue 10, or by means of the blower 40. As the combustion products pass through the portion of conduit 37 disposed beneath the Water level in tank 13, the tars or other liquids entrained in the combustion products will. be at least partially condensed and will descend by gravity downwardly into the lower branch 38a Where they may be removed from time to time by means of valve 39.

The remainder of the combustion products will be drawn, or forced, upwardly through the conduit branch 38b and will be discharged within the heating unit 150, below the grate 17c thereof. The draft through the flue will also induce an air flow around the bottom end of flue 10 and upwardly therein, with a portion of such air being drawn into the heating unit 150, where the air and combustion products will mix before they impinge upon the incandescent grate 170. From there the combustion products pass upwardly in succession through the heating units 1517 and 15a, each time being mixed with more air.

On each passage of the combustion products through the incandescent grates, the combustion of the products will become more complete. so that by the time that the products emerge from the final grate, the combustion is complete for all practical purposes.

The combustion products now pass upwardly against and flow around the wash heads 250, being washed by the annular water screen to remove any fly ash or other solids still entrained by the combustion gases. The successive water screens insure the complete washing of the gases, so that all particles are removed therefrom. The washed out particles then flow downwardly along the inner wall. of the flue lit with the descending water screens and into the tank 13; and the completely cornbusted gases are discharged into the atmosphere.

It has been found that, in spite of the intense heat generated by the heating units 15a, 15b and 150. little heat is absorbed by the flue It). thus eliminating the necessitv for expensive and bulky cooling apparatus for the flue. By the present arrangement, the water from the wash heads flows in the form of an insulating curtain downwardly along the inner wall. such that the temperature of the water curtain would increase as it approaches the lowermost heating unit 150. However, at the same time. cool atmospheric air is drawn into the bottom o the flue and is drawn upwardly along the inner wall thereof. the air becoming more heated as it progresses unwardlv. Thus. there are two oppositelv moving thermal barriers between the heating units and the flue walls which provide an excellent insulation for the flue.

The present invention is not limited in its use to heated grate members, as the same results will be ob tained through the use of electrical heating members to heat the grates.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the attachedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending flue having its lower end open to atmosphere, a water tank disposed beneath said flue, a horizontally disposed grate member in said flue, means to heat said grate member to incandescence, a combustion product conduit extending generally horizontally through said water tank and having a first branch extending downwardly through said tank and a second branch extending upwardly and terminating beneath said grate member, an auxiliary flue member associated with said grate member for directing combustion products from said conduit upwardly through said grate member, said auxiliary flue member being spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a horizontally disposed Wash head in said flue above said grate member, said wash head being imperforate and 7 having its outer periphery closely spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a nozzle associated with said Wash head to direct water onto the upper surface thereof, and means to pump water from said tank to said nozzle.

2. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending flue having its lower end open to atmosphere, a water tank disposed beneath said flue, a grate member in said flue, means to heat said grate member to incandescence, a combustion product conduit extending generally horizontally through said water tank into said flue and having a first branch extending downwardly through said tank and a second branch extending upwardly and terminating beneath the lowermost of said grate members, an auxiliary flue member associated with said grate member for directing combustion products from said conduit upwardly through said grate member, said auxiliary flue member being spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a wash head in said flue above said grate member, said wash head being imperforate and having its outer periphery closely spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a nozzle associated with said wash head to direct water onto the upper surface thereof, means to pump water from said tank to said nozzle, an air conduit extending into said flue and terminating upwardly therewithin above said wash head, and blower means to blow air through said air conduit.

3. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending flue having its lower end open to atmosphere, a water tank disposed beneath said flue, a plurality of horizontally disposed grate members spaced one above another in said flue, means to heat each of said grate members to incandescence, a combustion product conduit extending upwardly and terminating beneath the lowermost of said grate members, auxiliary flue members associated with each of said grate members for directing combustion products from said conduit upwardly through said grate members, said auxiliary flue members being spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a horizontally disposed wash head in said flue above; said grate members, said wash head being imperforate and having its outer periphery closely spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a nozzle associated with said wash head to direct water onto the upper surface thereof, and means to pump water from said tank to said nozzle.

4. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending flue having its lower end open to atmosphere, a water tank disposed beneath said flue, a plurality of horizontally disposed grate members spaced one above another in said flue, means to heat each of said grate members to incandescence, a combustion prod.- uct conduit extending generally horizontally through said water tank and having a first branch extending downwardly through said tank and a second branch extending upwardly and terminating beneath the lowermost of said grate members, auxiliary flue members: associated with each of said grate members for directing combustion products from said conduit upwardly through said grate memberasaid auxiliary flue members being spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a horizontally disposed wash head in said flue above said grate members, said wash head being imperforate and having its outer periphery closely spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a nozzle associated with said wash head to direct water onto the upper surface thereof, and means to pump water from said tank to said nozzle.

5. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending flue having its lower end open to atmosphere, a plurality of grate members in said flue spaced one above another, means to heat each of said grate members to incandescence, a combustion product conduit extending upwardly and terminating beneath the lowermost of said grate members, auxiliary flue members associated with each of said grate members for directing combustion products from said conduit upwardly through said grate members, said auxiliary flue members being spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a plurality of horizontally disposed wash heads in said flue above said grate members and spaced one above another, each of said wash heads being imperforate and having its outer periphery closely spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a nozzle associated with each of said wash heads to direct water onto the upper surfaces thereof, and means to pump water to each of said nozzles.

6. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending flue having its bottom end open to atmosphere, a water tank disposed beneath said flue, a plurality of horizontally disposed grate members spaced one above another in said flue, means to heat each of said grate members to incandescence, a combustion product conduit extending upwardly and terminating beneath the lowermost of said grate members, auxiliary flue mem bers associated with each of said grate members for directing combustion products from said conduit upwardly through said grate members, said auxiliary flue members being spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a plurality of horizontally disposed wash heads in said flue above said grate members and spaced one above another, each of said wash heads being imperf'orate and having its outer periphery closely spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a nozzle associated with each of said wash heads to direct water onto the upper surfaces there of, and means to pump water from said tank to each of said nozzles.

7. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending flue, a water tank disposed beneath said flue and having water therewithin, the flue being open to atmosphere at its lower end, a plurality of horizontally disposed grate members spaced one above another in said flue, means to heat each of said grate members to incandescence, a combustion product conduit extending generally horizontally through said water tank below the level of the water therein and having a first branch extending downwardly through said tank and a second branch extending upwardly and terminating beneath the lowermost of said grate members, auxiliary flue members associated with each of said grate members for directing combustion products from said conduit upwardly through said grate members, said auxiliary flue members being spaced from the inner wall of said flue, a plurality of horizontally disposed wash heads in said flue above said grate members and spaced one above another, each of said wash heads being imperforate and having its outer periphery closely spaced from the inner wall of said flue so as to form an annular passage therebetween, a nozzle associated with each of said wash heads to direct water onto the upper surfaces thereof, a water filter, a cooling means, means to pump water from said tank through said filter and cooling means to each of said nozzles, an air conduit extending into said flue and terminating upwardly therewithin above said wash heads, and means to blow air through said air conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

